Candidates in June's local elections are to have their spending limited for the first time.
Under new legislation announced today, the limits will cover a 60-day period leading up to the local elections on Friday 5 June.
A sliding scale for spending will apply, depending on the population of the local electoral area, ranging from €15,000 down to €9,750.
Candidates for borough and town councils will be limited to spending €7,500.
Minister for the Environment and Local Government John Gormley said the limits were aimed at creating 'as level a playing field as possible', and would bring local elections into line with other contests where limits already apply.
He stressed the limits had to be both realistic and reasonable. 'If they are too low, they might unduly hinder campaigning, particularly by new candidates, but if they are too high, they won't discourage excessive spending,' he said.
Candidates belonging to a political party will have to give 10% of their allocation to the national party, although this could vary through a written agreement between the candidate and the party.
Minister Gormley also published a report on proposals for a new electoral commission, which recommends going ahead with an independent body to take charge of the electoral register, constituency revisions, and promotion of voting.
